Compensating device for wires



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. BEZER. OOMPENSATING DEVICE FOR WIRES, 6w.

No. 586,587. Patented July 20, 1897 WWW (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

H. BEZER. COMPENSATING DEVICE FOR WIRES, M. No. 586,587. Patented July 20, 1897.

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UNTTTJD STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY BEZER, OF NEIV ROCHELLE, NEIV YORK.

COMPENSATING DEVICE FOR WIRES, 84.0.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 586,587, dated July 20, 1897. Application filed August 18, 1892. Serial No. 443,412. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY BEZER, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at New Rochelle, in the county of \Vestchester and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improved Compensating Device for \Vires and other Lines for Actuating Mechanism; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

This invention relates to means whereby the variations of tension in actuating-wires of railway-signals and in friction-pulleys, cables, and the like, consequent upon their contraction and expansion under the influence of different degrees of temperature and resulting from other causes, may be automatically compensated for; and my arrangement is such that upon the first setting up or installation of the plant or apparatus and at such other times as required the operating wires, cables, rods, or chains can be accurately adjusted in accordance with the thenexisting temperature, and thus be put into condition to efficiently perform their allotted work, and due compensation be afterward automatically afforded for such expansion or contraction of the wires, &c., as may result from variations of temperature.

Another important feature of my invention, especially when used in connection with railway-signals, is that the pull exercised upon the wire is all expended in the direct operation of the signal, as the compensating device is automatically locked while that work is being performed.

To the above ends my invention consists in certain devices and mechanism in connection with the operating wires, cables, rods, or chains, arranged by preference in a protecting-case situated between the point of actuation and the device or mechanism to be operated upon.

For full comprehension of the same reference must be had to the following detailed description and to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

In said drawings I have illustrated my invention as applied to the manual. or mechanical operation of railway signals or semaphores, it being apparent that it may be used for analogous purposes with only such Variations of details as may be determined by the exercise of mere mechanical judgment.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatical View of the general arrangement of my compensating device as applied to railwaysignals. Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional elevation of the device proper. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken through casing and locking device on line 3 3, Fig. 2; and Fig. t, a detail cross-section on line a at, further illustrating such locking device. Fig. 5 represents a modification of the latter.

Referring first to Fig. l, A represents the actuating-lever of the signal-operating sys tem, which is generally located in the operators tower or house, situated at a convenient point at the side of the track, and B O indicate the signal-operating lines, usually made up of chains and wires or rods, extending from the actuating-lever A around suitablyplaced sheaves Z), Z1, 0 and c, substantially as shown, to connection with my compensating device, which is placed within a suitable casing D, located preferably near the signal or semaphore Z, so that the operating-rod thereof may be actuated directly from a lever in connection with said compensating device.

So long as practically the same relative arrangement is preserved the different parts just described maybe varied in construction and location without departing from my invention.

In Figs. 2, 3, and a I have shown the more essential features of my invention constructed and assembled in a simple and operative manner. The wires or rods B and 0 here enter the casing D through suitable end apertures and therein connect with suitable adjusting devices, such as turnbuckles T and T, respectively, these being in turn connected with chains 2, and t, which pass around small pulleys e and c, respectively, which are carried at the ends of a lever E, pivoted centrally to the casing D, preferably near the end opposite to that at which the wires enter, as described. The chains 15 t then return for some distance and form connection with two opposite ends of a T-shaped or three-armed lever F. This latter lever is pivoted centrally to a slide G, which works in horizontal ways formed in a plate or bracket H, made in one with or secured to the inner face of the easing D.

To one end of the slide G is secured a chain G", extending around a suitably-arranged sheave g, and passing thence either directly out through an opening in the under part of the casing to connection with a weight W, as

seen in Fig. 2, or to connection with a lever 10, pivoted in the casing and extending outward therefrom, upon which the weight W may be adjustably mounted, as seen in Fig. 1, it being apparent that one of these arrangements is the equivalent of the other and performs the same functionviz., that of offering resistance to a pull upon the chains it" and lever F and slide G through the wires or rods B C, as well as the additional compensating function to be hereinafter alluded to. WVhen the weight W is arranged as in Fig. 2, it may depend into awell formed in the foundation or ground, or when situated as in Fig. 1 it may properly be inclosed in an extension of the casing D.

The third arm of the T-shaped leverF extends centrally between and at right angles to its chain-bearing arms, and carries at its end a horizontally-projecting pin f,which lies normally between two inclined plane faces 2 2, formed immediately above or in front of the ways of the slide G in the bracket H, but adapted to be thrown forcibly against either of said inclined faces by the movement of the lever F to form a lock, as will be hereinafter explained in connection with the operation of my invention. The same lever-arm which carries the locking-pin f has also an indicating-point 1', adapted to be moved horizontally, with the lever f outside of but close to the bracket H, so as to register with a graduated scale S, marked or superposed upon such bracket, for the purpose hereinafter specified.

The normal position of the lever E, already mentioned as carrying pulleys for the chains it, is somewhat slanting, as shown in Figs.

1 and 2, so that a counterweighted lever V may be connected to its hub or be formed in one therewith and project through a slot in the casing D in such way that when said counterweighted lever is connected with the semaphore-operating rod z its normal position will be such as will maintain or assist in maintaining the signal-arm in its horizontal or danger position.

The operation of the above-described apparatus or mechanism is as follows: The parts being in their normal position, with the wires, &c., adjusted to their proper operative tension, and the semaphore-arm Z at danger, as shown in the drawings, the movement of the attendants lever A the proper distance in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1 will draw upon the line B and give off upon the line C, the strain consequently coming mainly through the chain 25 upon the upwardly-projecting end of the T-shaped lever F, and this lever being fulcruined upon the slide G such action instantaneously tends to throw the horizontal arm of said lever down and cause the pinf on its end to closely hug or impinge upon the lower of the inclined faces 2, which I have found forms a perfect lock against further motion in that direction, and also effectually prevents any movement of the slide G or its consequent pull upon the chain G and disturbance of the inertia of the weight The force of the operators pull cannot, therefore, be expended in moving the slide against the inertia of the weight, but will be entirely directed through the chain t and lever E toward raising the weighted lever V and rod and lowering the semaphore-arm to the safety position. This being accomplished, the lever F is allowed to return to its normal position, and the locking-pin again assumes its norm ally-central position bet ween the inclines 2 The operation of setting the signal to danger is similar to the above, save that the lever A is moved in the opposite direction, or into that shown in Fig. 1, the pull thus being put upon the line C and the slack upon the line B, and the chain 25 pulls the lower end of the T-lever F forward, causing the pin f to impinge upon the upper of the inclined faces 2, and thus prevents the slide G from moving, while directing the force of the pull to the lever E, lowering the weighted lever V, and by thus pulling down upon the rod 2' causes the semaphore Z to rise to the danger position.

The weight upon the lever V would assist the usual counterweight upon the signal-arm and insure the setting and maintenance of the semaphore at danger in case any of the forward chains, rods, or other parts of the actuating device should break.

The modification shown in Fig. 5 indicates two scalloped or notched faces 2 2, which I may use upon the bracket H as substitutes for the inclines shown in the other figures, these being arranged either parallel to each other, as illustrated, or set at an angle to each other, as may be desired, the pin f being in this case adapted to look into the notches.

Other modifications of the locking device thrown out of true by heavy wind-storms,

and therefore it is essential that the entire force of the pull upon the attendants lever be applied to the direct operation of the signal mechanism.

The operation of the compensating device proper may be thus further explained: Then the signal-operatin g plant is first set up, and

at such other timesusually at extremes of atmospheric temperatureas may be required, the attendant will take the temperature at some convenient point on the apparatus-such as the casing D or the signalpost-by means of an ordinary thermometer (shown at X in Fig. 2 as resting in abracket on the casing) and then by operating the turnbuckles T T in Lthe lines B and 0 take up or slack olf upon such lines until the slide G and its superposed lever F have been moved in one direction or the other and the weight XV correspondingly raised or lowered a sufficient distance to bring the pointer i opposite a point upon the graduated scale S which will correspond with the degree of temperature exhibited by the thermometer X.

The graduation of the scale and its correspondence to the graduation of a thermome ter will be easily determined mathematically when the extremes of contraction and ex pansion of the materials employed in the lines are ascertained and need not here be further entered into.

In practice a mean temperature for the different seasons may be adopted, and thus by glancing at the indicating device the attendant can always tell whether the variation in the lines has been sufficient to warrant a further adjustment of the turnbuckles T T or render necessary an increase or diminution of the compensating weight V. The avoirdupoise of the weight TV is usually sufficient, however, to take up any slack consequent upon expansion and not too great to yield against contraction, the equilibrium of the several parts being thus effectually maintained and the accurate and positive working of the signaling apparatus insured.

lVhile the invention is shown in the drawings as applied to pairs of lines or wires, it is obvious that in some cases it might be used in connection with the single lines or wires.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. In a device for compensating for expansion and contraction of lines for actuating signals or other devices, the combination of a weighted slide arranged to move back and forth in suitable ways, and a lever carried by said slide and connected with an actuating-line, said lever adapted to automatically lock the slide in its Ways when the signal or other device is moved from its normal position, substantially as set forth.

2. A device for compensating for expansion and contraction of pairs of lines or Wires and the like, consisting of a sliding piece adapted to move back and forth in suitable Ways and carrying a Weight, a locking device carried thereby and connected with the lines, and a system of interposed levers 0perated by said lines to actuate a signal or other device, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with the actuatinglines B, 0, having adjusting devices T, T, and with means controlled by said lines for actuating a signal or like device, of the compensating device consisting, essentially, of the three-armed locking lever F, lockingfaces 2 2, slide G, and weight W, arranged to operate substantially as set forth.

4:. The combination with a suitable supporting-bracket having locking-faces 2 2, of weighted slide G, three-armed lever F carried by said slide and having a pin adapted to lock against said faces, lines B, 0 connected to said lever, and means operated by said lines for actuating a signal, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination with lines B, and C having adjustable tension devices, of locking-lever F in connection with such lines, and carrying pointer i, slide Gcarrying such locking-lever, a suitable supporting-bracket and the graduated scale S, all arranged so that by adjusting the lines the pointer may be brought to any point of the graduated scale, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. The combination with lines B, C, and with the compensating device arranged substantially as described, of the pivoted lever E having end pulleys for said lines,the weighted lever V, and connections with a signal or semaphore, substantially as set forth.

HENRY BEZER.

Witnesses:

ROBT. A. KELLAND, H. llIACBRIDE. 

